Tiger
Ceremonies

Jungle Book
Ceremony for Awarding the Tiger Badge

People required:

Props:

A candle log (with
enough holes for each boy)

Small birthday candles
(one per boy)

A camp-stove lighter
(one that makes a flame, not just a spark)

Hints:

Because Shere Khan
is not seen by the audience and may be slightly farther away than Akela
and the cubs, he should have a very loud voice. If you are using a microphone
but only have one, give it to Shere Khan.

Have a spare tiger
badge or two on hand for boys that pop up after the badges have been
ordered (this can also save you from having to do another Tiger Badge
ceremony next pack meeting). If you use a spare badge, make sure that
a replacement badge is ordered in the cub's name. Otherwise, his records
at the council headquarters will not be current!

If you are using this
ceremony for the first time, practice the tiger growl by using it as
a spirit cheer at the beginning of the pack meeting.

Dim the lighting at
the beginning of the ceremony for better atmosphere and so that the
candles will show up better.

The camp stove lighter
called for is basically just a butane cigarette lighter that has been
fitted with a trigger mechanism and a long extender tube so that the
flame is about 4 inches from the hand. These lighters may sometimes
also be found with the Bar-B-Q grills in some stores. Tiger cubs are
usually more comfortable with this than matches or trying to use a larger
candle to light the small ones.

You can use a candle
log that is made for standard size candles. However, these ceremonies
consistently use fire to symbolize the Tiger Cub and Cub Scout Promises.
To contribute to that consistency, very small candles are used at this
end of the age scale, standard size candles are used for the older boys.
At the very end of a boys Cub Scout experience could be a ceremony using
a six foot long flaming arrow of light.

Akela: The moon is full,
just as it was long ago on that night in the jungle when Mowgli first
joined the Seeonee wolf pack. It has been many years since Mowgli returned
from living with the wolves. After he returned, he taught us many of the
lessons he learned while in the jungle. The most important was that the
strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the
wolf. That is why we are here tonight in this council ring. Tonight we
have many young boys who have earned their tiger badges. So let us begin.
Parents, bring forward these tiger cubs.

(Akela calls out the names
of the tigers who have earned the tiger badge. Parents and tiger cubs
come forward and face the rest of the pack.)

Akela: First, to earn
your tiger pins, you boys have learned the Tiger Cub promise. Are you
boys ready to make that promise again in front of your parents, these
other tiger cubs, and the rest of the pack?

(Akela shakes head in
yes motion. Boys should also shake their heads yes.)

(Shere Khan now interrupts
from an unseen place offstage.)

Shere Khan: These boys
are tiger cubs! The wolves have no business with them!

Akela: Shere Khan! The
Evil One! Mowgli knew you in the jungle as an evil tiger. And you tried
to catch him whenever you could.

Shere Khan: These boys
are tiger cubs! I will be the one to teach them!

Akela: Silence, Shere
Khan, you evil one! Even among the tigers you are scorned because of your
evil ways. Only the most disgraceful of tigers hunt for man cubs as you
do. But we know the one thing that you fear the most, the red flower.
And the reason you fear the red flower of fire so much is that all your
evil cannot stand against the light of one small red flower. I will prove
to you that each of these tiger cubs has already chosen to walk the path
of the red flower, the path of truth and light. I will prove to you that
each of these boys knows that your dark path is evil.

(Call each boy forward
one at a time and ask the following...)

Akela: (boys name), I
have here your tiger badge that you have earned! Do you want to accept
this badge, and remain with the other tiger cubs, and then go on to become
a Cub Scout with this pack? Or do you want to leave us now and go learn
the wicked ways of Shere Khan, the evil tiger?

(After the boy has answered...)

Akela: Then make the Tiger
Cub sign and repeat the Tiger Cub Promise with me.

I promise to love God,
my family, and to learn about the world.

Akela: You have chosen
well young tiger. So that Shere Khan can see the wisdom and truth that
already has begun to grow in your young heart, I want you to light one
of these small red flowers.

(If you have a large number
of boys, you can address the question to all of them, have all of them
repeat the Tiger Cub Promise together, then have them come forward one
at a time just to light a candle.)

(After the boy has lit
a candle, give him his tiger badge.)

Akela: Shere Khan would
teach you boys to have empty minds and to have no concern about others.
So that he will know that you already know better than that, I want each
of you boys to again make the Tiger Cub sign an repeat the Tiger Motto
with me.

Search, discover, share.

Shere Khan: These boys
are tiger cubs! I will be the one to teach them!

Akela: Silence and be
gone evil one! These boys know better than to follow you. Pack ___! These
tiger cubs have chosen well. Over the years we hope that the red flowers
they have planted tonight will thrive and grow into blazing arrows of
light. So to encourage these young tiger cubs and to send Shere Khan on
his way, let's give a good loud tiger growl.

ARRANGEMENTS: Lights off.
Council fire on , Semicircle sitting with Tiger Cubs on the floor and
parents seated behind them. Council fire in center. At the open end, place
fake water on floor and steps on top. Be sure to place steps so some difficulty
is encountered while crossing water so it's a real challenge. Put stamp
and rod taped together and in fire. Arrow heads, remaining rods, and feathers
at waters edge. Certificate, pin, and Tiger patch at Shere Kahn position.

TRIBAL CHIEF: (Chief is
setting at fire, when all is quiet he stands.) "Tonight, we have gathered
to honor our young braves. Let us call forth....

SHERE KAHN: (Interrupts
loudly.) I Shere Kahn wish to test these braves before honor is given
them! I call forth the man cubs called Tigers!

(Tiger Cubs and adults
go to Shere Kahn and stand before him.) What is the motto of the Tiger
Cubs. Have you obeyed the Promise of the Tiger Cub? Tigers, this is the
emblem of your first rank in Scouting, wear it proudly. (Patch) Adult
Tiger, this is the symbol of your deeds in preparing these Tigers for
their next adventure in Cubing. (Pin) So all may know that you have done
well, here is the writing to prove your efforts. (certificate) Go now,
I wish no more to see you. You must walk the water of evil. Be weary if
its quickness and smooth appearance, for it can fool you.

CEREMONIAL BRAVE: (Brave
is at the end of the water. he greets them. He takes them to a spot where
he has the makings of the arrows and says,) The arrowhead breaks the wind.
The stick, if straight, will guide the arrows path. The feathers gives
balance and distance. Take these and make your arrow of life. Learn of
its true nature and be a good Scout.

(He then takes the Tigers
to the council fire, the adults are asked to take their seats and the
boys are asked to sit on either side of the Tribal Chief.)

TRIBAL CHIEF: Tonight,
we honor these Cub Scouts, for they have completed the challenge of the
Tigers. So all may know that they are not of the tribe we will place our
mark upon their foreheads. This symbol is the Bobcat, your first rank
in this tribe. (Chief stamps each Tiger, as each boy is "branded" the
Cub pack hisses, the Chief calls them Bobcats of Den(#), and introduces
them to their Den Leader.

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